Betrayal of Faith by Mark M. Bello

Author:Mark M. Bello [Bello, Mark M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 8Grand Publications
Published: 2019-11-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Jessica Klein finished work for the day and hurried outside. She wanted to reach the park before Gus walked by. It was 4:45 p.m. Gus usually came by around 5:00 p.m. She hurried out of the old county building and fast-walked to the park—arriving at approximately 4:53 p.m.

It was a beautiful summer evening. Trees and flowers were in full bloom, and a nearby creek crackled water, which slowly ran toward the river. A slight summer breeze ruffled her hair. Had she not been anxious to see Gus, she might have taken an evening nap on the park bench.

It was 5:05 p.m. Gus was late. He was never late! At 5:15 p.m., she decided, He’s not coming. Something’s wrong. Where’s my phone? I have to call Micah. She ransacked her purse, trying to locate her phone in the rubble. A powerful-looking stranger walked by. He glanced her way, serious as a heart attack, and walked on. She froze, quickly collected herself, located her cell phone, and called Micah.

“Hello?”

“Micah? Thank God you’re there. Gus didn’t come,” she fretted. “He’s never late. He never misses work! Something’s terribly wrong. I can feel it. I know it!”

“Okay, Jess, okay, calm down,” Micah reassured. “Come on now. I’m sure everything is fine. He’s late. That’s all. No big deal.”

Jessica’s hysterics scared Micah. She was not prone to panic. She was strong, sure, and forthright. He kind of enjoyed her sudden vulnerability, being the strong one, and comforting her.

“Don’t patronize me, Micah Love!” Jessica bristled. “Everything is not ‘fine,’ damn it! I’m going over to Gus’s place right now! Am I going by myself, or are you coming with me?”

So much for vulnerable Jessica . . . “Of course, I’m coming with you,” he promised. “Where are you?”

“At the park, First and Elm.”

“Stay right there. I’m on my way.”

***

Micah met Jessica at the park. They drove together to Gus’s apartment house. Micah parked and ordered Jessica to stay in the car. Of course, she refused. They crept to the building and inspected the directory. Jessica located Gus’s name and pressed the appropriate buzzer. No answer. Micah tried the entry door. Locked. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out what looked to be a large wallet, unfolded it, and revealed a set of small tools.

“You’re going to pick the lock?” Jessica cackled. “Just like on Castle.”

“Quiet, Jessica. You’ll alert the neighbors,” Micah scolded. He began working on the lock. Within seconds, Jessica heard a click, and the door opened. They stepped inside a dim hallway and located Gus’s apartment. The door was demolished. Micah pulled out his gun. He shoved Jessica behind him—there was no use asking her to stay there—and leaned through the open threshold. He and Jessica crept inside and observed a neat, sparsely furnished one-room apartment. Other than the broken door, nothing appeared out of order. A small television faced them from the back wall with a large couch in between. Gus lay on the couch. Asleep?

Micah came around to the head of the sofa and gently shook Gus’s shoulder.

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